7 Communication Mistakes

Lack of Specificity

Be specific about what you want and what you will do. Avoid using anytime, asap, whenever, soon and later. Instead give a specific time, for example: “Please respond by Friday at Noon.”

Lack of desirable behaviors

We often tell people what we do not want them to do, rather than what we would like them to do. For example, one might say “don’t leave the dishes in the dishwasher.” Better would be to say “put the dishes away when the dishwasher has completed its cycle.”

Lack of immediacy, urgency or promptness

Be proactive in your communication.

Say it now – festering fosters negativity.

Lack of Respectful rebuttals

Avoid using the terms: but, however and although. For example: the work you did on the presentation was great, but you did not mention the growth we have seen. What do you think the receiver got for a message from you? Try using and in place of but, however and although Better yet, think specifically about what you are trying to say.